Ministries

Liturgical Ministries     Caring Ministries

Liturgy Ministries

Liturgy Committee
The Church celebrates the memory of Christ’s saving work on appointed days in the course of the year through her liturgical celebrations. The goal of the committee is to promote the full active and conscience participation of the faithful. The liturgy committee coordinates parish worship life through the preparation of liturgical celebrations under the guidance of the pastor. Hence, encouraging, involving, and supporting parishioner participation in liturgical ministries is very important to the committee.

Altar Servers
“Serve the Lord in gladness.” Boys and girls fourth grade through eighth grade who have made their first communion are encouraged to serve at Eucharistic celebrations. Trainings are offered throughout the year. Jesus showed great love and predilection for the young as the gospels attest. Our parish encourages our young to serve at the altar of the community.

Art and Environment Committee
The Art and Environment committee is responsible for the “look” of the church. The committee is a division of the Liturgy Committee and handles all the changes of color, decorations, flowers, and vestments. The committee sets the look and the feel of the church. Everyone gifted with artistic talents are encouraged to join this committee.

Funeral Ministry
In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity. The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. Those involved in the funeral ministry assist the family and bereaved in this time of pain and sorrow. They bring Christian hope in the life to come.

Choir/Music Ministry
St. Augustine said, “The one who sings, prays twice.” Music and choral singing has always been and integral part of our Catholic liturgy throughout the centuries. St. Thomas Aquinas is blessed to have an excellent music ministry.
The 9:30 Choir provides music every Sunday for the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The choir also sings during Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter, and other special Liturgies. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
The 5:00 p.m. Choir sings one Saturday a month. They also sing at the holidays and special Liturgies. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at 8:00 p.m.

The Youth Choir is comprised of young singers ranging from students that are in 8th grade through college. The choir sings during the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. All instrumentalists (8th grade and up) are welcome to serve in any of the Liturgies. Instrumentalist should be able to provide their own instrument. The musician should have knowledge of their personal instrument and know how to read the treble and sometimes the bass clef. Two to three years of instrumental or musical experience is recommended. Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The children’s choir is comprised of the parish’s youngest parishioners ranging from second to eighth grade. Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
The table of the Eucharist, where all Catholics gather to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, forms the community of faith. Serving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is a very special privilege and blessing. If you feel called to this important ministry to serve Holy Communion at Mass, please come join us. The Eucharist is the core and center of who Catholics are. Extraordinary Ministers serve the faith community in a very important role. Those called to this ministry need to be examples of prayer and deepest love of Jesus and the Eucharist. Extraordinary Ministers usually meet twice a year for training and have one social a year.

Lectors
Lectors are proclaimers of God’s Word at Mass and on special occasions. Auditions are held periodically during the year and will be announced from the pulpit and included in the bulletin. The proclaimers of God’s Word challenge a community with the presence of Christ in his Word as He carries out the ministry of salvation and offers the Father perfect worship. The Word proclaimed in the liturgy is always a living, active work through the power of the Holy Spirit. It expresses the Father’s love that never fails in its effectiveness toward us.

Ministers of Hospitality
Good liturgy flourishes in a faith community that is welcomed. Ministers of Hospitality extend a warm and hearty welcome to all who come to worship. The Ministers of Hospitality contribute to the smooth flow of the liturgy. They hand out missals, collect the offering of the faithful, usher people to communion and distribute bulletins after Mass.

Liturgy Assistants
They provide assistance to the celebrant during each liturgical celebration by assuring that the sanctuary is prepared for the service and that all liturgical ministry functions are covered.

Nursery Ministers
A nursery is available in the Thissen Center for children aged eight months to three years old during 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Nursery ministers also provide childcare during parish meetings, classes, dinners and special parish events. Volunteering in the nursery is a great way to meet other parents in the parish. More volunteers will mean more children to be served. Please coordinate with the contact person for timely scheduling of nursery ministers.

Wedding Coordinators
Wedding Coordinators are the liturgical assistants for marriage celebration under the direction of the Pastor. They assist the couple in planning the religious aspect of the marriage. Their services include one planning meeting and assisting with the rehearsal and the ceremony. Coordinators are appointed six to eight weeks prior to the ceremony.

Caring Ministries

Bereavement Ministry
The Bereavement Ministry has trained volunteers who call bereaved families, facilitate bereavement groups and offer individual bereavement counseling. They send out monthly bereavement letters and maintain contact with the grieving parishioner for a year. Anyone going through the bereavement process or who are called to this ministry is encouraged to call the parish office.

Cancer Support
This ministry provides a safe place to deal with issues surrounding cancer and an opportunity for small group sharing. The focus is on hope, deepening spirituality and presentations by guest speakers. All patients, family members and friends are welcome. The faith community of St. Thomas Aquinas wishes to walk with you as you walk with God through your journey of cancer. Meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Thissen Center.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick
Trained and dedicated volunteers take Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass. Volunteers minister in pairs representing the parish community. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish, especially when family members are recovering from surgery, ill or homebound and would like Holy Communion brought to them. If you feel called to ”Bring Christ to the World” and serve in this important pastoral ministry, please contact the office.

Funeral Aid & Reception
Funerals are important occasions for the parish to be a loving, compassionate presence to the bereaved family and friends. Volunteers are needed to help prepare the sanctuary, set out Kleenex, hand out missals, greet and seat people attending a funeral, and set up and serve food at the funeral reception. Volunteers work in pairs and training is provided.

Gabriel Project
The Gabriel Project is a parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. The support of the faith community for physical, spiritual and emotional needs are offered to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This is a ministry of loving acceptance and non-judgement. Training is available for anyone interested in becoming a Gabriel Angel.

Meals Ministry
“I have come to serve and not be served.” Volunteers help to provide food, and set up and serve for funeral receptions at the parish. Meals are available to parishioners when needed after surgery, serious illness, emergency situations, or after the birth of a child. This is a perfect opportunity to become involved in a ministry without a large commitment of time. Meals don’t have to be “homemade.” Taking the time to drop off food to a fellow parishioner is the real gift.

Prayer Blanket Ministry
Volunteers with sewing machines are needed to prayerfully sew prayer blankets which are distributed to the sick and for our youth for prayer support.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is made up of parishioners who come together in prayer on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. They knit and crochet as they pray for those who will receive the prayer shawls. The shawls are given to those who are ill, suffering, or grieving. Knitting and crocheting skills are shared and traded with all who share in this ministry. The blessings of strength and joy are open to all who attend our meetings.

Red Cross Disaster Shelter
St. Thomas Aquinas has been designated as an official Red Cross Disaster Shelter and needs volunteers to help set up the shelter at the parish if a disaster should occur. Following the devastation of a hurricane, flood or fire, volunteers are needed to ensure that victims receive assistance. Training will be provided.

Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction helps people become aware of the path along which God is leading them, so that they may choose to cooperate with God’s transforming and healing process, freeing them to become the unique person that God has created. In the relationship with the pastor, a deacon or a spiritual director, the Holy Spirit is the real director. The parish has several trained spiritual directors available for anyone who is in need. There is no fee for this ministry.

Social Ministry
Trained and conscientious volunteers are available to provide help with food, rent or utilities, and offer financial counseling for parishioners who are in need. If you know of a parishioner who might want to contact Social Ministry, have them call 281-240-6721 voice mail box 307. A volunteer will return their call. Parishioners may donate non-perishable food at any time by putting it in the Feed My Sheep box in the gathering area or in the Siena Room. Those interested in volunteering for this ministry should call the church office.

Stephen Ministry
This is one of the newest ministries that has been started at STA. Stephen Ministry in a one-on-one
Christian caring ministry where trained volunteers spend one hour a week with someone who is
hurting. This ministry requires 50 hours of training initially and twice monthly supervision. If you
are a caring, compassionate, non-judgemental person who honors confidentiality, this might be the
ministry for you.

Stewards of Creation
It is important for the faithful to show respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. We are all called to
protect people and the planet by living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. Volunteers can help with
the “Greensheet”, the bi-monthly calendar, and special projects or join a simplicity circle, which will focus on living
more simply and purposeful. Less really can be more.

STA IS INITIATING A NEW PROGRAM “FOR MEN”.

That Man is You
‘That man is you’ is a 26 week interactive men’s program combining the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic Faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of a man fully alive. By honestly addressing the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, ‘That Man is You’, seeks to form men who will be capable of transforming homes and society. Parishes that have implemented this program have found it extremely dynamic for the men who participated in it. Registrations begin at the parish on the weekend of August 25 & 26, 2007 or register online at www.thatmanisyou.org.